The newspaper ad read "$250-500 a week Will train to work at home. Helping the US gov't file Hud/FHA mortgage refunds. No exp necessary. Call 1-866-537-2906"
So I called the number thinking I could be employed by the government. A man answered the phone; I told him I was calling to get more info on the ad in the paper. He asked what state I was in; I replied California. He said" Hold on I think that position has been filled"- I should have recognized this tactic as one to create a "sense of urgency"... He came back on and said they still needed someone for my area.
He wanted to sign me up and hire me that day, but I had some questions. I tried to be responsible by figuring out all the details, and John always had an answer for each question. I asked what the average amount was that I could make; did the people we sent forms to have to agree to do anyting; and I clarified that I could get a refund of the $98 after a 90day min. Period if I decided I didn't want to do this. Respectively, he replied: he said that the worst case was that I made nothing nd got my money back after 90 days; the people did not have to do anything except sign the documents to get their refund, of which I would get 25-30% of; and I could get my money back.
I finally agreed to sign up. He asked for my name, address, and checking accn't number to get the starting packet off to me. (In my head I heard that little voice saying don't give someone over the phone your checking accn't number, but I trusted that this was legit, and afterall, John said the Treasury department would send me my check - who would think the Treasury dept. Would have something to do with a scam?)
After I signed up, my husband questioned the company more. We looked it up on the internet, & I became horrified to read that other people were told - WORD FOR WORD - exactly what I was! I called the 866# back to cancel the packet. A lady t that # told me to call corporate at #480-777-7696, so I did. The lady at the # told me I would not be charged, but I was afraid - they had my accn't #. I had called my bank BEFORE I called the company to stop payment, and the bank said: we cannot put a stop payment unless this was from a company that had already electronically deducted money from my accn't once before - that makes no sense to me at all, but they would not help.
After I called the 480#, I called my bank again; the lady suggested that I reopen my accn't - that was the only way to verify that they could not take any money out. So I did - it's kind of a pain, but I am told this will protect me from having them still take out the money (like I read they did to several others).
Please please do not give someone over the phone your account #; I was blind and trusting, like so many others.
0 comments